Great collection of feel-good songs
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 06/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Britain is a great place for double-CD compilations on every conceivable theme and now we have a compilation of happy songs. Like many themed compilations, the musical styles vary considerably - you need an eclectic taste in music to enjoy every track here. Five decades of music are represented - the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and the start of the new millennium. With all such compilations, it is possible to argue about what could have been included, but there is no doubt that every song here fits the compilation's basic theme.
I generally prefer the older tracks (this will surprise nobody who follows my reviews) but I'm pleased to see Kylie among the contemporary artists represented (with Can't get you outa my head). My favorites from the sixties are Brown eyed girl (Van Morrison), Happy together (Turtles), Higher and higher (Jackie Wilson), What a wonderful world (Louis Armstrong), Good vibrations (Beach boys), Build me up buttercup (Foundation) and My guy (Mary Wells).
From the seventies, my favorites are Don't stop (Fleetwood Mac - from their classic album, Rumours), December 1963 (Four Seasons), Lovely day (Bill Withers), Heaven must be missing an angel (Tavares), You sexy thing (Hot chocolate) and Sunshine day (Osibisa). Great tracks from the eighties include House of fun (Madness), Heaven is a place on earth (Belinda Carlisle), Walking on sunshine (Katrina and the waves) and Stuck with you (Huey Lewis and the news).
If you want a compilation that avoids all the sad songs that dominate popular music, this may be what you are looking for."
Track Listings (43) - Disc #1